Check valve



March 28, 1950 A. SELIGMANN 2,501,744.

CHECK VALVE Filed Sept. 12, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 o 2, J;- 6 62 33 I 28 25 2/ /5 J 70 34 36 L /6 g INVENTOR Arhurde/lymazm N BY -9 A. SELIGMANN March 28, 1950 CHECK VALVE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 12, 1944 A ["277 gr JE/z'gmann ATTORNEY March 28, 1950 CHECK VALVE Filed Sept. 12, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 l I no INVENTOR ATTORNE A. SELIGMANN 2,501,744 I ?atented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE, it

OHECK VALVE Arthur Selig-mann, Newark, N.

Applicat'ionSeptember 12,1944, Serial No. 553,681

i2 elaims. (01. 251-419) vided with'a shutoff valve; and a shut off valve is also provided in the discharg Fline leading to the condenser.

When starting the icompressor, the shut on valve in the discharge line is closed and the shut ofi Wall/I8 in the by-zpass is "Open.

After the compressor has meachedrfullspeed, .the

shut .off valve *in .the .discharge line is opened and the shut off valve :in the -by-pass .line :is :closed. There usually is :a check valve in the discharge line'to prevent thezgasat condenser pressure from surging through the by -pass before the shut off valve in the zby zpass is fully closed. In large plants where there are large shut-off valves in the bye-pass :and discharge lines, .such valvesare hard to control. In systems where-tour or live compressors are running interconnecting'and .the

shut on" valve in the discharge line .is openedloefore the shut off valve .in the .by-passis closed, if the check valve does not work properly or if there is no check valve, .then .therefrigerant such as ammonia or sulfur dioxide vfrom the condenser will'flow back into the byepass and suction line. .If another compressor or the same compressor receives the liquid refrigerant in largeamounts .or at high pressure insteadof the gas, then somethingmight give way. .asfor example, the cylinder a head may blow out or the whole system may be put out of order. Check valves in'the discharge line, as heretofore made, are normally closed by spring means. For this reason such check valves open and close'twice for each compressor revolution. *Such'repeated opening and closing of check valves, as heretofore constructed, cause themto break quite often. Experience has shown that such check valves break sooften that themaintenance men have given up replacing or repairing them and often emplo two men for starting the system, one for closing the shut ofivalve in the lay-pass and the-other for slowlyopening the shut on valve in the discharge v.l'ine, simultaneously. .It

is therefore an o'bject of this invention to provide a highly improved check valve whichznorma'lly stays open as long as the compressor grunsand which may close when the compressor stops and which must close when the shutoff valves ini'the to prevent a vehement hack flow through the bypass.

Another object of '-t1iis in-vention is to provide a check valve of the character described normally biased to open position. Thus the valvewill re- "main open if the pressure 'on the in'let side drops and the resulting gas flow fluctuates between 'maX-imum in one direction and zero. If, however, inlet pressure begins to drop further, the valve will be forcedto close -as soon as the difference in pressure at the outlet and inlet sides exceeds the tendency of-theva'lvetoopen.

A further advantage .of the invention consists in'the-following:

For as much as the valve will not move with every piston play, i. e. many times per secondybut onlyat long "intervals, there is no objection to a.

high valvelift, so that a 'largepassage area can easily and inexpensively be provided, which results in a very small pressure drop-through the valve.

.Furthermore,.this large area will always beactually usedwaslthe valve is assured to .stay open all the way. 'With the old design, wherelthe spring tends tolclose .the valve, no matter how high the .lift. is made, ,the valve .Will on y open to the point where "the resulting pressure drop is just sufficientto compensate-the spring tension plus-the weightof thev valve plate. With the present-design, full opening of the valve canloe obtained. I

' Yet :another object ofwthis invention :is to provide ;-in a checkwalueotthe character described,

.means for usingthe 'Pitot principle toproduoe an additional. idiiference :tnpressure ,to .aid ,in closing the valve=whenabackflow should occur.

- Still -.a further object of this invention is to providea rugged and' durablecheck valve ofcthelcharlacterydescribed whichjmay be used in aref-rigerator system, :and whichhas a great vanietyof other uses, such as in automatically controlled compressor systems... and which :shall be relatively in- -,expensive tomanufacture, which shall rbersureand :pos'itiveiin operation, and yetzpractical and eflicient to ahigh degree infuse.

Other objects of "this invention will inunart .--be obvious :and in pant hereinafter ,jpointed out.

idischarge and by-passlines open simultaneously, .55

1 The invention accordingly consists 1 the features oflconstructione combinations of elements,

.-and arrangement .of whiohwill :be iexe m plified in the construction hereinafter described, andlof: which the scope of application will :be indicated; in. the following ;Inthe yaccompanyingedrawing, :in which is shown various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is an axial cross-sectional view through a check valve embodying the invention and showing the valve in closed position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing the valve in open position;

Fig. 4 is a partial view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of part of a refrigerator system and illustrating one application of the check valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'l'! of Fig. 4;

I formed with apertured flanges l5 interconnected by bolts I6. Flanges I5 are spaced apart as shown in the drawing.

Supported on and between the adjacent faces of flanges [5 of members I4 is a valve seat 20. The valve seat comprises an annular plate, the

edges whereof are received between the flanges I 5. A pair of top and bottom gaskets 2| may be interposed between member 20 and flanges I5.

I Thus member 20 is tightly clamped between the members I 4 by the bolts l6. Member 20 is formed with a plurality of concentric rows of arcual slots 25 forming arcual ribs 26 between the slots, and radial ribs 21 between the sets of arcual slots A and ribs.

In the upper face of member 20 is "a central recess or cylindrical opening 28 terminating short of the bottom surfaces of plate 20. The diameter of opening 28 is considerably less than the diameter of plate 20 as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Seat 20 is furthermore formed with a plurality of circular through openings 3| equiangularly spaced and located inwardly of the innermost circular row of slots 25. The bottom wall 33 of the cylindrical opening 28 is formed with a central screw threaded opening 34. Screwed within said opening and extending downwardly therefrom is a tube 35 projecting axially into inlet pipe H. The upper end of the tube may be flxed to wall '33 by means of a nut 36 screwed to the upper end of the tube.

Attached to seat 20 are a plurality of parallel guide bolts 31. The guide bolts pass through openings 3| in plate 20. Each guide bolt 37 is formed with a shank portion 40 passing downwardly through opening 3|, and screwed to the lower end of the shank is a nut 4|. At the upper end of shank 46 is a collar 42 resting on the upper surface of seat 20. Extending upwardly from collar 42 is a shank portion 43 formed with a screw threaded portion 44 to which is screwed a nut 45 for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Slidably mounted on the valve seat 26 is a valve plate 50 having openings 5| to slidably receive the collars 42 of bolts 37. Valve plate 56 is considerably thinner than plate 20. It is formed with arcual slots 52 which register with the arcual ribs 26 of plate 20. Said plate is also formed with arcual ribs 53 registering with and overlapping the arcual slots of the valve seat 26, and with radial ribs 54 registering with the radial ribs 21 of said valve seat. Thus, when plate 50 rests on member 20, the slots 25 are closed by the valve plate. Valve plate 56 has a limited up and down movement guided by the bolts 31.

Plate 50 is furthermore formed with a central opening 55 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Contacting the underside of plate 56 is an inverted cup shaped cylindrical member 66 having a top wall 6! and a downwardly extending cylindrical wall 62. Wall 6! is formed with a central opening 63 registering with opening 55. -Wall Bl contacts the underside of plate 50 whereas cylindrical wall 62 projects downwardly into the openin 28 with a rather loose flt.

On top of plate 56 is a retainer plate 65 likewise formed with a central opening 66 registering with openings 55 and '63. Passing through said registering openings is a bolt 61 to flx plate 50 to plate 65 and cup 60.

Within cylindrical opening 28 and interposed between the bottom wall 33 thereof and the underside of wall 6| of cup is a coil compression spring 10. It will be noted that plate 50 may be moved up and down together with cup 60 and plate 55 from the closed position of Fig. l to the open position of Fig. 3.

Fixed to the upper ends of bolts 31 is an annular valve guard H having substantially the same outer diameter as valve plate 50. The valve guard H is formed with arcual slots 12 substantially registering with the slots 52 of valve plate 50. It is formed with openings 14 receiving the upper portions 43 of bolts 31.

Openings [4 of the valve guard H are counterbored at the lower ends thereof to receive the upper ends of collars or shoulders 42 of the bolts 31. The nuts 45 serve to clamp the valve guard H to the bolts 31 in spaced relation above the valve seat 20.

It will now be understood that when valve plate 50 is down in the position shown in Fig. l the valve openings 25 are closed and back flow is prevented. When the valve plate 50 moves upwardly to contact the valve guard, flow in an upward direction is permitted through slots 25, 52 and 12.

It will be noted that the spring 10 normally maintains the valve plate in open position and said valve closes only when the difierence be- .tween the outlet pressure and inlet pressure .multiplied by the area of sleeve or cup 60 exceeds the resultant of the spring tension of spring 10 and weight of plate 50. The sleeve 60 is not fitted absolutely tight in the center hole or opening 28 so as to prevent friction, but has very little clearance so that only a trickle of gas could flow through the gap, and the bottom of the center of the valve plate is held up under the static pressure prevailing at the inlet side of the valve, thus assuring a positive action as the gas flow begins to reverse. If there is any back flow a suction will be created through pipe 35 to produce additional difference of pressure to insure prompt closing of plate 50.

It will be noted that the recess 28 communicates or is open to the inlet side of the valve.

In Fig. 1 the communication is through tube 35.

rim-Elan thewbottom w 11 @ofmhe :recessisopenaat Emu halve :is installed in pan .eupwardly flowing line.

Thersprling 1-150 is :ofsufficient strength ;to normally .Jifitvalve plate filliagainst its :weight to open zposition. w'llhus :the spring must be able to iexert :greater pressure (than the weight :of :the waive plate .50. The resultant :of the spring ipressure :and rweightof the valve'plate must .be iaiforceztending .zto openthe valve aplateand-revstain :it inopen :position.

One use of the valve Hi embodying thelinven- .ztioncis illustrated .:in :Fig. :5 of :the drawing. In Fig-: ltherezis sh'own diagrammatically:part% of .a mefrigerating system including part :of .a roompressor 9i] provided-with a discharge .line 9'! .on etheghighpressuretside extending to the condenser, sand: with van-inletsline :-.92 coming from the ievapaerator. LJA by pass line 9.3 is provided interconmecting 'the highsand .low pressure .sides of the COmDIGSSOI'. Shut off .valves 9 l'and 95 are usually zprovideil 'in the discharge and lay-:pass lines. An additional shut-off valve '96 maybe provided ionzthevlowapressure line .192. When starting, the compressor shutoff valve :94 inthe discharge line iis' firs't cl'osed and shut off valve 95 in the by-pass is'opened. =After the compressor'has reachedfull speed-shut on :valve 94 :iisopened and the check ::valve 'inthe discharge line-prevents gas at con- ;zdenser :pressure from rushing back into the by- ;pass. :Shut 'ofiivalve '95 in the by-pass line is closed and then pressure in :the discharge manifoldZiS buiItup higher than the condenser presiSllI-E which permits :the 'check valve in the dischargelineto openandallow gas to pass onto fithercondenser. 4 Check valves for the discharge line -as hereto'fore constructed were normally closed by spring pressure. -With--such a checkvalve, the waiveopens and closes twice -foreverycompressor revolution. Such action-often causes breakage ro'f' thecheok valve and sometimes the breakage issoroften' that operators havegiven up repairin'g'or "replacing them. "In the case of breakage forfailure of the checlr valveyand particularly where several compressors are running interconnected the refrigerantiromthe condenser will eflowbackinto th'e by-"pass and "suction lines *causingmonsiderable damage. 'Witnthe present-valve,*thevalve remains open as long as the compressor runs. 'Thespring of "the present valve embodying the invention tends tofhold the valve'open. "Thus it will not move if 'the pressure drops and the resulting gas flow fiuctuates'in between'maXimum and zero in one direction. After the'pressure is reversed, howeverythe valve-will be'forced closed as soon as the difference between the outlet pressure and the inlet pressure :multiplied by the area in the center -'of-"-the valve exceeds the resultant 'of the spring-tensionand'weight of platetll. The pres- 'ent valves are therefore .not likely'to break-or 1'get 'outof order'andwill last foralonger period. InI-Fig. 4' there. is shown: a valve"! Owembodying Ithe invention ;and illustrating another form thereof. 'The valve Illa issimilar to valve 10 exfceptithat the pipe :35 ispmitted and the. bottom lwalllvoif the cylindrical opening .28 .is 'open -aas rat 4'00. -Furtherrnore, the valve seat :member and :walve :guard member-are interconnected at the ,periphery instead @of by vabolts .31. ;Thus astshown in 1Eig.ethei valve seat 120a zisii'orm'ed with openwaltesguard Ila is formedwith amanmilar jlperipheral vdownwardly uextendmg .fiange 2L0! contacting tthe walve .seat :and :formed with screw openin s H.106 -'to receive the 'escrews 103. #iThe 'raslve :plate,:is;slida'b1 y mounted betweemthe svalne :seat and waive .guard :on .any-rsuitablegguide pins (or: rods.

In the :foregoing .it'wassassumed Lthanthe walve i bl ilt ;;into ,an upwardly: :flowing line. built-into :a. downward line, :the weight :of the 'r valwezplate .willtend to open'the valve. II-n this ;.c ase,:especially. if; for constructiveqreasonsral heavy ivalvegplateihas [to be provided, :it may. be :adva'ntageous to compensate this weight'ipartiallybnaa s ring, i. e..:t0.,giV.e ;the spring ;a tendency. altowardsxthe olosing of the valve. .Always, however, :sthe resultant :of spring tension rand Weightgm'ust aurge the'pvalve-itowardsthe LOPBH position. .3 These nothing; to preventzthe installation 10f 'thewalve ainqarhorizontalyor slanting :line.

. rin -Fig.8 there is shown a check. ;-va1ve. I to em- :bodying=;the invention builtxiinto aa downwardly flowing-line. -In saidfigure the :arrows showithe vnormal directionof flow. The valve comprises tappair of chamber members .III and I l.2.":bolted :together by. bolts l I13. .zc-hamber members Ill] .and 3H 2zis. a .valvesseatllid .whichrmay be similarto valve "seat ".2 0, 'butmounted in reverse position. .The'valveaseat 'lil 4iis like- :wise formed "with :a central recess. 28a on its runtdersideand isrprovided lwith arcual. slots 25as'imilar to slots,.25. Attaohedrto valve-:seatxl I14 iin .parallelspaced opposed relation theretozis'a valve :sguard M15. "The valve; guard .maygbe'attacheldcto dihe ivalve ,seat' inrthessame imanner as illustrated in Fig. :3 of the drawing. .The .valve guard, is-locoated'belowtheyalveseat;I M .asshown in Fig..:8. =Withirr.the recessz28a isyarrangeda cupxfifla. iThe -gap;between' the ccupzandithe recess issufiiciently marrow :to prevent passage of any :considerable amount offluid.

Attached to cup ffilla'ris agvalve .plate 5lla:;havping .slots registering with the slots in the valve guard-and alternating :with the :slots .in; the'valve :seat. .L'Ihe-valve plate 50a may be .attached'gto :the soup .byumeans of a plate 650. andiazcentral bolt-tin. ::Attache.d touthe'top of the valve seat .114 and extending upwardly therefrom .is.;an;a-x- :ial :tube 35a communicating with the recess 18a :andzalso; with theinlet side of the line. :Mounted .on tube 3.5a isfatransverse .pin H 6 connected gby .atension-s pring M1, to bolt :61a. The spring H1 risiof such strength that the valve plate --.5 0a;-:is {normally open that is the spring I l'l-- is insum- .cientto;lift the .valveplate 50a-off .theevalve 'gll l d ;l-l,5 so that the valve .is normally open. The-. re- .sultantof .the weight of theavalve plate and the spring tensiomt-H is such thatthe valVe ,platesis 1normally biased downwardly .to open position. .If A desired; thespring -.H I :may .be; Entirely eliminatedso that theweight Ofthe plate alone isrelied on to maintain the valve plate in open posi- 'tion. It isonly .where thevalve plate would be too;heavy;that;the spring II! is employed 1120 .lessengor decrease the downward-pull :of the plate.

*InFig. 9% there is shown acheckivalve 1Z0 embodying the invention and likewise. incorporated intoaazdownwardly-flowing line. In-valve. l20,; the jtube :.3 5a is :omitted .and .the valve seat 12,011.; is @formed with ;.a central opening lOlla in whichids receivedcup 59a. ,Awalve guard [5a is fixedto ,the valve -;seat .in .spaced parallel opposed y161- .tion:-;thereto:;as ;.shown .inz-therzdrawing; ..3InterringsaWZzat itszperiphery ate-receive isscrews'zwa. nosed between a:. shoulder Mia xnnivalueggnard aclamped between the g H511 and plate 50a is a coil compression spring I. The weight of the valve plate 50a is sufflcient however, to normally overcome the spring 12! so that the valve is normally open. Here likewise the spring may be entirely omitted and reliance may be had for opening of the valve on the weight of the valve plate. Where the valve plate is too heavy, the spring l2! may be employed to lessen the downward pressure of the plate due to its weight. It will be noted that in the valves H and I the recess communicates with the inlet side of the valve and that the cups Ma have a rather loose fit within said recess of the valve seat.

.Important for the invention and essential to the proper function of the valve in all its variations is the following: First, the resultant force of gravity and spring load (if any) must tend to keep the valve fully open; this will avoid full or partial travel (vibrations) with the frequency of the compressor or multiples thereof. Second, in order to absolutely insure the closing of the valve, if and when required, a substantial area of the valve plate covers an opening which is not used for gas passage, but by special means shut OK from the flow; thus, this area is exposed to full head pressure on one side, and to full back pressure on the other at all times, not onlyin the closed position, where this is obvious. Referring to Fig. 3, which shows the valve in open position, the gas in the pipe line and in the inlet chamber, before entering the valve, has a certain pressure; as the velocity is very low here, static pressure and total pressure will be almost identical; now, as the gas enters the slots of the seat it gains velocity and consequently loses pressure; as the stream is then deflected along the underside of the plate, and again deflected into the slots of the guard, further pressure drops ocour, and a final decrease of pressure takes place as the gas passes through the guard. Consequently, when the gas reaches its original low velocity again in the exit chamber after leaving the valve, it has undergone a permanent pressure loss. The pressure back of the valve is lower than ahead of it, and the pressure at any point along the gas passage through the valve structure is somewhere in between. It can thus be seen that the pressure differential acting on that part of the valve plate which covers the passage openings in the seat is that created by the deflection of the gas stream around the edges of the slots in the plate, which is obviously less than half the total pressure drop, irrespective of the direction of the flow. However, due to the construction of the valve, particularly due to the snug fit of the cup in the recess, no flow can take place through the central opening, and consequently no change of pressure into velocity and vice versa; this central area of the plate is, therefore, at all times subject to the full pressure differential between inlet and outlet chambers.

Now, if and when the normal gas supply stops and the pressure equalizes, the valve is still kept open by the resultant action of gravity and spring. If the flow reverses, but as long as it remains slow, there is little tendency to close the valve through action on those parts of the plate which lie between the slots, because the pressure differential here is small for the reason explained above, and it may be too little to overcome the spring tension. However, the full pressure differential acts upon the central area of the plate, and this will enforce a closing before a rapid back-flow has an opportunity to develop, which,

Ill

of course, is the purpose of the valve.

After the valve has, thus, closed and the gas flow has completely ceased, the entire plate is, naturally, exposed to the full pressure diiferential, and, thus, held tightly on the seat as long as the pressure on its upper side exceeds that on its bottom.

The terms full head pressure and full back pressure as used in the description and the claims mean the pressures prevailing in the gas immediately before it enters and immediately after it leaves the valve resp., as distinguished from intermediate pressures prevailing at points within the valve structure along the passage channels.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiments above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In a check valve, a valve seat formed with slots and ribs between the slots, said valve seat being formed with an opening in its upper surface, a valve plate on the valve seat formed with slots registering with said ribs, a spring within said opening and interposed between the valve seat and valve plate, and a valve guard above the valve plate and fixed to the valve seat in spaced relation thereto, said valve guard having slots registering with the slots in the valve plate, and a tube connected to the bottom wall of the opening in the valve seat and communicatingtherewith and extending downwardly therefrom into the inlet side of the check valve.

2. A check valve comprising a chamber, a valve seat traversing said chamber and formed with valve openings, a valve guard in said chamber, means to fix said valve seat to said valve guard in spaced, parallel relation thereto, a valve plate interposed between said valve seat and valve guard, said valve plate being adapted to close the openings in said valve seat, said valve plate and valve guard having registering openings, means to normally bias the valve plate toward said valve guard, said biasing means being interposed between the valve seat and valve plate, said valve seat being formed with a recess to re,- ceive said biasing means, a cup shaped member fixed to said valve plate and loosely projecting into said recess in the valve seat, and a tube fixed to said valve seat and communicating with said recess and projecting into the inlet side of the check valve.

3. A check valve comprising a valve seat, and a valve guard, said valve seat and valve guard being disposed in spaced opposed relation and having non-registering openings, a valve plate disposed between said valve seat and valve guard and having openings registering with the openings in the valve guard and adapted to close the openings in the valve seat, spring means to open the valve plate, the resultant of the weight of the valve plate and the influence of the spring being such that the valve plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in fully opened position adjacent the valve guard with no flow, said valve seat being formed with a recess communicating directly with the inlet side of the valve, and a member fixed to the valve plate, pro-' jecting into saidrecess and: fitting me: it so snuglyas torprevent substantiall gas'ifiow through the" rec'essa-t all positions of thei plate.

42 Archeelc valve comprising a valve seathaving openings for the passageof fluid and? at, least one additional opening, avalve plate covering: all these openings intheclosed position thereof, and uncovering-01 11;! the passage openings in theopen position. spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring: means are in approximate equilibrium in theafulzliy open. position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve.

5. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening. a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and. to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, and guide means to keep the plate essentially parallel to the seat.

6. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, and a guard disposed in spaced opposed relation to the seat, and provided with means limiting the movement of the plate.

'7. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, and a guard disposed in spaced opposed relation to the seat, and provided with means limiting the movement of the plate, the plate and the guard having openings registering with each other but offset with the openings in the seat, and the guard having at least one further opening opposite the said additional opening of the seat.

8. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage Openings in the open position, spring meanscpounteracting the weight ofithe plate in such: a manner that the plate and spring: means) are in approximate equilibrium in" the fully open position, that part of the valvevalve, a cylindrical part on the platefitting into;

the said additional opening. of the seat forming a gap therewith and obstructing the flow therethrough;

9: A check valve comprising a valve seat havingopeninggforthev passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, said spring means being located within the said additional opening, and interposed between the valve seat and valve plate.

10. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, the said additional opening being open on the up-stream side.

11. A check valve comprising a valve seat having openings for the passage of fluid and at least one additional opening, a valve plate covering all these openings in the closed position thereof, and uncovering only the passage openings in the open position, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, that part of the valve plate which covers the said additional opening being exposed to the full head pressure on one side and to the full back pressure on the other side in both the open and closed positions of the valve, a cylindrical part on the plate fitting into the said additional opening of the seat forming a gap therewith and obstructing the flow therethrough, the said additional opening being connected to a point further up-stream by a conduit whose cross section is many times the area of the gap.

12. In a valve, a valve seat having valve openings, a valve plate therefor adapted to close said openings in closed position of the valve plate and to open said openings in its open position, said valve seat having an additional opening, spring means counteracting the weight of the plate in such a manner that the plate and spring means are in approximate equilibrium in the fully open position, said valve plate having a portion closing said additional opening when the valve is closed, and means to retain said additional 0pen-, ing substantially closed when the valve is open whereby to expose said portion of said valve plate Number Name Date to full head pressure on one side and full back 1,226,870 Duryea, May 22, 1917 pressure on its other side in all positions of said 1,244,286 Breinl Oct. 23, 1917 valve plate. 1,297,296 Jackson Mar. 11, 1919 ARTHUR SELIGMANN. 5 1,669,424 Schneider May 15, 1928 1,852,582 Longacre Apr. 5, 1932 REFERENCES CITED 1,987,974 Richardson Jan. 15, 1935 The followin references are of record in the 2,195,205 Wineman 1940 file of this i 2,197,455 Volpin Apr. 16, 1940 10 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Number Name Date Number Country Date 793,214 Neuhaus June 27, 1905 390,531 France of 1908 952,589 Weir May 7, 1907 501,720 France Feb. 4, 1920 

